Grasslands Plan Revision FAQs

A land management plan guides the management and protection of natural resources on our national forests and grasslands to maintain healthy ecosystems and support sustainable uses. Direction in a land management plan is meant to carefully balance the management of different uses, such as defining areas where primitive recreation or timber production may occur or limiting uses in other areas to protect resources like water or rare plants.

The Forest Service revises land management plans to stay current with laws, regulations and policies; respond to social and environmental changes and use the best available science to make decisions. Land management plans are revised by a team of Forest Service resource professionals under the direction of a national forest or grassland supervisor, with input from the public, government agencies and Tribes. The land management plan revision process occurs in three phases:

1. Assessment of current economic, social and ecological conditions on a national forest, prairie or grassland.
2. Develop the plan using the assessment of existing conditions and gathering input from the public, other agencies and governmental entities, tribal governments and organizations.
3. Monitor the conditions of the national forest, prairie or grassland during plan implementation to see if the land management plan is achieving intended desired conditions and objectives or if changes are needed.

The National Forest Management Act requires the Forest Service to revise its land management plans periodically to remain current with new regulations and policies; respond to changing ecological, social and economic conditions and incorporate the most recent scientific information relevant to the management of resources and uses on public lands.

The Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands are currently managed under the 1984 Land and Resource Management Plan: Pike and San Isabel National Forests; Comanche and Cimarron National Grasslands. A lot has changed since 1984 within the region, and it is time to work together to update the plan for the Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands.

Visit the National Land Management Planning page to check out planning occurring on other national forests and grasslands.

Public input provides the Forest Service with valuable information on the current conditions, desired use and cultural, social, spiritual and economic value provided by the national forest or grassland to the communities or Tribes in the plan area. During the plan revision process, there are many engagement opportunities for the public and Tribes. These include preparing for and during the assessment of existing conditions on the forest or grassland, during plan development, during the environmental analysis and objection process and as part of monitoring. See what opportunities there are to participate in the plan revision engagement process!

The 2012 Planning Rule requires that assessments rapidly evaluate existing information about relevant ecological, economic, and social conditions, trends, and sustainability and their relationship to the land management plan within the context of the broader landscape. The responsible official shall consider and evaluate existing and possible future conditions and trends of the plan area, and assess the sustainability of social, economic, and ecological systems within the plan area, in the context of the broader landscape (§ 219.6). (36 CFR 219.5(a)(1)).

The assessment is the first phase of the three-phase adaptive planning process. The assessment’s purpose is to rapidly identify and evaluate existing, available and relevant information.

There are several objectives of the assessment:

1. Identify and assess a solid base of available information relevant to the plan development or plan revision.
2. Build an understanding of relevant information with the public and other interested parties before starting plan development or plan revision.
3. Develop relationships with interested parties to facilitate public and government participation among government entities, Indian Tribes, private landowners, and other partners and interested parties.
4. Develop readiness of both the Agency and the public to focus on topics appropriate to a plan or plan revision.

The following 15 topic areas should be considered when developing the assessment:

• Terrestrial ecosystems, aquatic ecosystems and watersheds.
• Air, soil and water resources and quality.
• System drivers, including dominant ecological processes, disturbance regimes, stressors—such as natural succession, wildland fire, invasive species and climate change—and the ability of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems to adapt to change.
• Baseline assessment of carbon stock.
• Threatened, endangered, proposed and candidate species and potential species of conservation concern.
• Social, cultural and economic conditions.
• Benefits people obtain from the National Forest System in the planning area (ecosystem services).
• Multiple uses and their contributions to local, regional and national economies.
• Recreation settings, opportunities and access and scenic character.
• Renewable and nonrenewable energy and mineral resources.
• Infrastructure, such as recreational facilities and transportation and utility corridors.
• Areas of Tribal importance.
• Cultural and historical resources and uses.
• Land status and ownership, use and access patterns.
• Existing designated areas located in the plan area including wilderness and wild and scenic rivers and potential need and opportunity for additional designated areas.

A substantive comment provides the context and the "why." See the table below to see examples of turning vague comments into substantive ones.